History | Smithsonian

When Paper Clothing Was the Perfect Fit

A war-weary world needed a new wardrobe, and this cheap, washable attire seemed to rise to the occasion

Archaeologist Who Rebuilt the Terracotta Army Dies

Kangmin, who died earlier this month, was one of the first archaeologists on the scene when the famed relics were discovered in 1974

The Defiant Ones

As young girls, they fought the fierce battle to integrate America’s schools half a century ago

The Lost Maidens of Berlin

A decades-long quest for one of the most intriguing artworks looted by the Nazis leads to the courtyard of a posh hotel in the German countryside

Bloomer Didn’t Mean to Start a Fashion Revolution

In the 1850s, women’s rights activists briefly adopted a new style in an effort to liberate themselves from heavy dresses

Why King Harold's Rapid Coronation Sparked Outrage

The fast ascension of Harold Godwinson to the English throne in 1066 was greeted with fury by rivals Duke William of Normandy and brutal Viking warlord Harald Hardrada

When in Nîmes

A new museum in Nimes pays tribute to the grandeur of the Empire

When Paper Clothing Was the Perfect Fit — When Paper Clothing Was the Perfect Fit

A war-weary world needed a new wardrobe, and this cheap, washable attire seemed to rise to the occasion

Archaeologist Who Rebuilt the Terracotta Army Dies — Archaeologist Who Rebuilt the Terracotta Army Dies

Kangmin, who died earlier this month, was one of the first archaeologists on the scene when the famed relics were discovered in 1974

The Defiant Ones — The Defiant Ones

As young girls, they fought the fierce battle to integrate America’s schools half a century ago

The Lost Maidens of Berlin — The Lost Maidens of Berlin

A decades-long quest for one of the most intriguing artworks looted by the Nazis leads to the courtyard of a posh hotel in the German countryside

Bloomer Didn’t Mean to Start a Fashion Revolution — Bloomer Didn’t Mean to Start a Fashion Revolution

In the 1850s, women’s rights activists briefly adopted a new style in an effort to liberate themselves from heavy dresses

Why King Harold's Rapid Coronation Sparked Outrage — Why King Harold's Rapid Coronation Sparked Outrage

The fast ascension of Harold Godwinson to the English throne in 1066 was greeted with fury by rivals Duke William of Normandy and brutal Viking warlord Harald Hardrada

When in Nîmes — When in Nîmes

A new museum in Nimes pays tribute to the grandeur of the Empire

2 hours ago

Rarely Seen 19th-Century Silhouette of a Same-Sex Couple Living Together in the 1840s Goes On View

Women Who Shaped History May 24, 2018

Amelia Bloomer Didn’t Mean to Start a Fashion Revolution, But Her Name Became Synonymous With Trousers

May 24, 2018

Why the Very First Treaty Between the United States and a Native People Still Resonates Today

May 24, 2018

When Paper Clothing Was the Perfect Fit

Europe June 2018

Travel to Southern France for a Dazzling Taste of Ancient Rome

June 2018

The Lost Maidens of Berlin

June 2018

Seventy-Five Years Ago, Women's Baseball Players Took the Field

June 2018

The Defiant Ones

May 21, 2018

The Factory That Oreos Built

May 18, 2018

Delivering the Mail Was Once One of the Riskiest Jobs in America

More Recent Stories »

SmartNews Keeping you current

New Research

How a Copper Coin Mummified a Baby's Hand

May 25, 2018 6:00AM

New Exhibition Serves up 150 Years of Canadian Culinary History

Zhao Kangmin, the Archaeologist Who Pieced Together China’s Terracotta Warriors

New Research

Hitler's Teeth Confirm He Died in 1945

Why This Year's Royal Wedding Cake Won't Be a Disgusting Fruitcake

Researchers Decipher Two Hidden Pages of Anne Frank’s Diary

More SmartNews Stories »

U.S. History

Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant

World History

An aerial photograph shows the new museum’s proximity to the ancient arena.

Archaeology

Liu Cun Yu, the director of the Beipiao Pterosaur Museum

Featured History Videos

Malcolm X's Explosive Comments About Elijah Muhammed

An Up-Close Look at the Royal Regalia

This Major Military Operation Ignited the Vietnam War

Join Smithsonian Journeys on a trip to Italy

Subscribe

Save 84% off the newsstand price!

First & Last Name

First Name

Last Name

Address 1

Address 2

City / State

City

State

Zip

Email Address

Enter your email address